Axis for Autism Launches New Model to Streamline Diagnoses

Axis for Autism, an Arizona-based provider of ASD evaluations for children and adults, has launched a new model that streamlines diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder and cuts wait times for families awaiting an evaluation, ensuring they can access life-changing intervention and therapies faster.

Waitlists at Arizona health systems are thousands of children deep. Many families wait a year or more to connect with a provider who has the necessary expertise to perform this evaluation and make a formal diagnosis. This is problematic, as it delays access to interventions that improve short- and long-term outcomes for kids with ASD.

“Getting an evaluation is the very first step in ASD care, but families face an uphill battle just trying to get an appointment,” says Christine Ehrich, founder and CEO of Axis for Autism. “It’s a distressing time because they want to do what’s best for their kids but are powerless to move forward until they get that evaluation. Our goal is to remove the roadblocks and help families get answers and qualify for interventions much more quickly.”

Axis for Autism’s model for ASD evaluation leverages groundbreaking technology, including a suite of scientifically validated diagnostic tools and a team of highly specialized clinicians. The company cuts the wait time from more than a year to fewer than 60 days — even in rural areas — while giving families decisive answers and a clear course of action, now and in the future. With three locations in Central Phoenix, Glendale and Tucson and mobile teams that traverse rural Arizona, Axis for Autism can conduct up to 500 evaluations each month — or 6,000 a year.

The company’s goal is to bring down the average age of diagnosis — from 4 years 10 months to 2 years. That’s because a wealth of research shows early intervention can improve a child’s overall development, from improving social and language skills to mitigating behavioral challenges and boosting IQ. Indeed, the National Institutes of Health reports that early diagnosis and interventions for ASD have significant, lasting effects on symptoms and later skills.